Window opening device



May 22, 1962 o. sToTz wINDow OPENING DEVICE Filed Deo.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 22, 1962 o. sToTz 3,035,829

WINDOW OPENING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Oce 3,035,829 Patented May 22, 1962 3,035,829 WINDOW OPENING DEVICE Ottmar Stotz, 1504 Washington St., Evanston, Ill. Filed Dec. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 859,988 3 Claims. (Cl. 268-117) This invention relates to a mechanical window operator and more particularly to a variable position window operator for a Casement window having provision to be readily installed on presently existing Casement window constructlons.

There are in present use a few varieties of easement Wmdow operating devices. Nearly all that are used commercially require the window frame installation to have special provision to accommodate the operator] The. above types `are unable to provide the advantages of a device which is completely adaptable to all types of casement constructions, being compact and placing virtually no limit on space requirements. Furthermore, the existing operators lack a high degree of ease in hand operation and require extra manual adjustments to lock the window in a desired position.

The above problems are obviated by providing a case.- ment window operator having a flexible coilable tongue member composed of spring metal which is connected to the window by a particularly constructed connector. The tongue member is transversely arched to afford rigidity when extended linearly outward to push or pull the window. The tongue member is driven by a hand crank and transmission means affording extremely easy operation and which cooperates to instantaneously lock the window in a desired position upon movement into such position.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved operator for opening and closing casement windows.

Another object is to provide an operator which can be installed easily on presently existing Casement window constructions.

A further object is to provide a easement window operator which is capable of adjusting the window to any desired position in its swingable path and immediately and automatically locking the window in such position until further manual operation of the operator.

A still further object is to provide an operator which is compact and is capable of applying a superior degree of mechanical advantage in opening and closing the window.

A still further object is to provide an operator having an extendible tongue member for applying a pushing force to said window, the tongue member proceeding in a straight path and the operator having structure to compensate for the relative movement of the swinging window and the linear movement of the tongue member.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following illustration of a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a broken plan view partly in section of the window operator embodying lmy invention as installed on a easement window construction shown in section; the window and connected portion of the operator being also shown in an intermediate open position of the window in broken outline;

FIGURE 2 is a broken sectional view of the window hinge ytaken substantially as indicated along line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective View of the connector which joins the extendible tongue member of the operator to the fixed window bracket;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the outer end of the tongue member Aremoved from the assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the tongue member taken substantially as indicated along 5-5 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the window and operator in the fully opened position of the window;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view through the window and the operator taken substantially as indicated along line 7-7 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional View through the window and the operator taken substantially as indicated along line 8--8 of FIGURE 1. I

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 6, there is shown a preferred embodiment of thev present invention adapted to operate a presently existing double-pane casement Vwindow 10 having a sash 11 composed of inner and outer sash elements 12 and v13 constructed to hold glass panes 14 in a well known manner. The window is swingably supported on hinges 15 having a vertical pivotal axis and pin 16 spaced from the sash 11. The hinges 15 have upper and lower hinge plates 17 and y18 movable in parallel planes; upper hinge plate 17 has upturned ange 19 attached to the outer vertical face of the sash 13 and hinge plate 18 has slightly bent end 20 attached to an upwardly facing step of the window framework 42 facing the sash. 'Ihe window sash swings open in a direction indicated by arrow 38.

Most Casement Window constructions employ hinges similar to those illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 in order to properly bring the sash into its frame. In the present wood sash Iand trame construction, the joining surfaces are rabbeted as shown, and the outside hinge axis swings the sash so that the rabbets come together as illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 1. The operator of of the present invention is intended to occupy a xed position relative to the fran-1e and accommodate the swing of the sash required by the particular hinge structure and location of the pivot axis.

The window operator of .this Ainvention employs a linearly movable tongue member connected to the sash outwardly along the sash from the side connected to the hinges. The tongue member 21 is connected to the window sash 11 by a connector comprising a number of parts and generally designated 22, permitting the tongue member to proceed in a linear path for pushing or pulling the window sash in its swinging path. The tongue member is moved along its path by a driving means supported in housing 24 attached to the window framework 42.

The specific parts of the connector 22 include a link 26, pivot pins 27 and 28, a stop member 29, and a window bracket 25 attached to the window sash. The window bracket 25 has an upwardly extending leg 30 fastened to the inside vertical face of the sash 11 and a horizontally extending leg 31 with an upper face 32 in the plane of the upper surface of the tongue member. A tirst end 33 of a link 26 is pivotally connected to the window bracket by pivot pin 27 extending through an opening in leg 31 and opposite end 35 is pivotally connected to the tongue member by pivot pin 28 extending through opening 36 in the end of the tongue member. The link 26 lays in a plane generally parallel to the upper `face or" leg 31 of the bracket and may swing in this plane as the window sash is moved. The stop member 29 is pivotally connected by pin 40 to an intermediate portion bracket to swing the sash 11 and the bracket along a curved path (indicated b-y arrow 3S). Link 26 is caused to pivot simultaneously about both pivot pins to compensate for the relative movement between the bracket and end of the tongue member as illustrated by the various positions shown in FIGS. l and 6. To prevent the link from assuming too great an angle Vwith respect to the path of the tongue member whe-n it is near r at the closed-window position, the stop member 29 is provided with sufficient length to be engaged by the bracket 25 on the Window sash. At the closed-window position, the stop member abuts or engages flange 41 and prevents the link 26 from further pivoting. Pivot pins 27 rand 28 may be suiciently loose within the respective openings through the window bracket, link, and tongue member to allow the stop member to take up the looseness and assume the major beginning opening thrust from the tongue to the sash. Stop member 29 serves to limit the inward movement of the tongue member and the angular movement of the link, as well as serving as a primary thrust member leading fromthe tongue member when initially pushing the window out of the frame.

Tongue member 21 has an opening 43 to permit reversibility of the connector when used with an oppositely opening Casement windowyflange 44 of the link permits the stop member to reverse its operation when the connector is so reversed.

The tongue member is constructed of flexible spring metal having a transverse arch (FIG. to give longitudinal rigidity when extended outward along its path in order to transmit sufficient pushing or pulling force when opening or closing the window sash. Perforations 45 are longitudinally aligned along the length of the 'tongue member adapted to receive the projections 46 of la sprocket wheel 47 mounted in the housing 24. A -bottom plate 5S of the housing is adjacent to the periphery of the sprocket wheel permitting the tongue member .to-pass therebetween onlypwhen ythe projections on the sprocket wheel are inserted in the perforations of the tongue member. The bottom plate acts as a back stop to hold the tongue member against the sprocket wheel and insure that the projections 46 enter the perforations and drive the tongue member.

' The sprocket wheel 47 is a part ofthe driving means which also includes a hand crank 48 and'an intervening transmission. VThe transmission (FIGS. 7 and 8) includes a drive shaft 49 rotatably mounting the sprocket wheel, a spool S0 unattached to the tongue member, but about which theV iiexible tongue member may wind into a compact space, a shaft 51 rotatably mounting the spool, a small spur gear 52 tixedly mounted on the drive shaft 49, a large spur gear 53 ixedly mounted on the spool shaft in mesh with small spur gear 52, and a worm gear 54 extending along a portion of the hand crank and in mesh with the large spur gear 53 on the spool shaft.

TheV housing 24 encloses the transmission and that portion of the tongue member wound about the spool and rotatably supports the drive shaft 49, the spool shaft 51, and the hand crank 4S. The housing 24 is attached to the window framework 42 by an extension `of the bottom of the housing forming a plate portion 55secured to a step of the framework facingV the sash and by a plate ,56 secured to the inside vertical face of the framework.

A web 57 extends beneath the housing to add strength to the housing bottom and attaching plates.

To open the yCasement window, an operator merely turns the hand crank 48 which draws tongue member 21 from the spool to extend it directly toward the window along a straight path. The turning motion is transmitted to the tongue member through vthe transmission previously described.

As the tongue member initially proceedsalong its path Vthe stop member 29 is in engagement with the windowsash and acts as the primary thrust element to start opening .the window. The 4link 26 is caused to pivot about both of its ends to maintain the connection between the vwindow sash and tongue member while accommodating the relative movement therebetween. After the window sash has moved away from contact with the stop member, pins 27 and 28 solely transmit the pushing or pulling force to window bracket. In the fully open position of the window, the tongue member is parallel and adjacent to the inner vertical face of the window sash. lt is important to proper functioning of the operator that it be mounted on the window framework, spaced from the hinges so that the window sash and tongue member are parallel at the final open position. This relationship permits a ready guide to initial installation of the operator on a window frame.

To close the window the operator turns the crank in the opposite direction whereby the tongue is drawn in by the sprocket'wheel. Near to its closing position the window sash engages the stop member which in turn is caused to engage flange 41 at the exact closed position tov prevent link 26 from `pivoting further.

Upon adjusting the window sash to a desired position, the sash becomes'instantly locked by the driving means until further manual operation due to the friction in the transmission. The described operator is compact by virtue of its coilable tongue member and can be mounted as easily as any other hardware without special space requirements. Also the described transmission affords a superior degree of effortless operation.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modiiications Will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A easement window operator for opening and closing a Casement window swingably supported to move in a horizontal path about an upright pivot taxis, comprising: a flexible longitudinally extending tongue member transversely arched to give sucient longitudinal rigidity for applying a force capable of opening said casement window; a bracket xedly attached to a portion of said Casement window; a link having a rst end pivotally connected to the end of said tongue member about a first axis and its opposite end pivotally connected to said bracket about an axis spaced from said first axis, said link simultaneously pivoting about both axes to permit relative movement between the widow as it proceeds in a horizontally swinging path and the end of said tongue member as it proceeds in a straight path, said link having a flange extending upwardly intermediate said rst and opposite ends; a stop member pivotally connected to said link intermediate said rst and opposite ends, said stop member being engageable by said casernent window causing said stop member to abuttingly engage said flange on said link and prevent said link from pivoting; and a drive means to feed said tongue member along a straight path for opening said window and to retire said tongue member into a compact space when closing the window.

2. A easement window operator for opening and closing a easement window swingably supported to move in a horizontal path about an upright pivot axis, comprising: an extendible flexible and coilable tongue member transversely arched to give suflicient longitudinal rigidity for applying a force capable of opening said easement window, said tongue member having longitudinally aligned perforations substantially throughout its length; a rotatable sprocket wheel having projections on its outer rim for driving engagement with perforations of said tongue member; a bracket ixedly attached to a portion of said easement window; a link having a first end pivotally connected to the end of said tongue member about a first axis and its opposite end connected to said bracket about an axis spaced from said first axis, said link simultaneously pivoting about both axes permitting relative movement between the window as it proceeds in a horizontally swinging path and the end of said tongue member as it proceeds in a straight path, -said link having a lflange intermediate said first and opposite ends extending perpendicular thereto for engaging a stop member, said stop member engageable by said Casement window causing said stop member to abuttingly engage said ange on said link and prevent said link from pivoting, said stop member in cooperation with said link aiding to transmit force to the Window bracket during the initial stages of opening said easement window; a drive shaft rotatably mounting said sprocket wheel; a spool for coiling up said extendible tongue member into a compact space; a shaft rotatably mounting said spool; a spur gear xedly mounted on said drive shaft; -a spur gear xedly mounted on said spool shaft in mesh with said spur gear on said drive shaft; a hand operated crank having a worm gear along a portion of its length in mesh with the spur gear on said spool shaft; and a housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft, spool shaft Iand crank, said housing adapted to be attached to a presently existing Casement window construction.

3. A easement window operator as in claim 2, in which the housing includes a bottom plate adjacent to the periphery `of said sprocket wheel permitting said tongue member to pass therebetween only when the projections on said sprocket wheel are inserted in the perforations of said tongue member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,256 Potter Feb. 22, 1938 2,194,471 Hays Mar. 26, 1940 2,217,079 Ronning Oct. 8, 1940 2,222,588 Williams Nov. 19, 1940 2,907,416 Comba et al. Oct. 6, 1959 

